calumny Hear it!

calumny definition

cal·umny (kal′əm nē)

noun pl. calumnies -·nies

  1. a false and malicious statement meant to hurt someone's reputation
  2. the uttering of such a statement; slander

Etymology: Fr calomnie < L calumnia, trickery, slander < IE base *kēl-, *kol-, to deceive, confuse > OE hol, slander

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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